Chair seat



Nov. 17, 1936. D, W OD 2,061,054

CHAIR SEAT Filed July 19, 1955 Patented New. 117 fi3$ PAYNE HQ assists CHAIR Glenn D. Wood, Elkhart, Research Corporation, ration of Indiana SEAT Ind., assignor to Posture Elkhart, Ind., a corpo- Application July 19, 1935, Serial No. 32,152

3 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in chair seats and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Oneobject of the invention is to provide a chair seat which though cushioned or upholstered, is ventilated so as to permit the circulation of air through certain portions thereof to dissipate body heat generated during occupancy of the chair, of which the seat forms a part.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. seat for stenographic and like chairs, which is not only simple in construction so as .to be produced at a relatively low cost; but is cool and i5 comfortable for the occupant to sit upon, and at the same time is attractive in appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair seat of this kind having a novel bumper strip arrangement at the front to absorb the go shocks and prevent marring of the front of the seat or the other piece of furniture when the chair is bumped against a desk or the like, as. often happens 'inuse.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a seat of this kind which includes a rigid seat bottom, and a plurality of cushion elements arranged and secured side-by-side on the same, with spaces or channels therebetween, the rigid seat bottom having openings in line with said '9 spaces or channels.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well asothers, together with the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair seat embodying the preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the seat; 40 ,Fig. 3 is a fragmentary seat;

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the seat as taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and g 45 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical detail sectional view on a. still larger scale, through the front portion of the seat as taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of 50 the invention, illustrated in the drawing:

6 indicates, as a whole, a rigid seat bottom of the desired outline shape and made preferably of sheet material such as metal or wood. As shown herein the seat bottom which is slightly conbottom plan view of the caved transversely, is substantially rectangular in plan and the front end thereof is curved in plan and merges into the sides by rounded corners. At the rear, said seat bottom is provided with an upturned flange 6a which materially stiffens the same.

On the top surface of the seat bottom is a plurality of side and intermediate cushion elements 'l-l and 8-8 respectively. These elements extend from the front to the rear of the seat bottom in substantially spaced, side-by-side relation. Preferably each element consists of a base 9; covering l0 and an intermediate padding ll, the covering having its margins turned under and secured to the base to enclose the padding. The inner sides of both side elements 1 as well as both sides of both intermediate elements 8 are curved intermediate the ends of the respective elements so as to leave spaces or channels l2 between said elements when they are disposed upon the seat bottom. These spaces or channels gradually close up toward the ends of the elements where said elements engage each other as best appears in Fig. 2. In the seat bottom 6 in line with each space or channel are openings l3. When said cushion elements are in position, the rear ends thereof engage against the flange 6a at the rear end of the seat bottom, the front ends of said elements being shaped to conform to the front end of the seat bottom.

A finishing rail of the front end of the seat bottom and which rail follows the contour of the front end of said seat bottom. This rail, which not only rigidifies the seat bottom but also gives depth to the front end of the seat, is covered atthe front with a suitable material preferably the same as that used upon the cushion elements.

Passing down through the front end of the base 9 of each cushion element 1 and 8, is a bolt I6, best shown in Fig. 5. Each bolt extends through the seat bottom into a recess l1 provided therefor in the finishing rail l4. A nut and washer l8 arranged in each recess, suitably engages the bolt end therein. To the bottom of said rail is secured a strip IQ of material similar to the material l5 is, which is separate from the strip of material l5, finishes off the bottom of the rail l4 and covers up the recesses l'l therein. The bolts It thus not only secure the rail in place, but also secure the front end of the cushion elements to the seat bottom.

Screws (see Fig. 3) pass up through the seat bottom to enter into the bases of the cushion elements 1 and 8. Thuseach cushion element is H is located on the underside before mentioned. This strip I tively. When the nuts before mentioned, are

tightened up on the bolts I6, this causes said flange to be somewhat compressed and gripped between the seat bottom and finishing rail to secure said bumper strip in place. Thus the facing 23 of said bumper strip overlaps portions of the front end of the cushion elements and the front face of the finishing rail to conceal said portions and to provide a smoother under-knee engagement for the occupant. When said strip is made of a color different from that of the covering for the cushion elements and finishing rail respectively, a decorative effect is added to the chair which makes it more pleasing.

The facing portion of the bumper strip projects forward from the chair seat so that it will engage an object such as a desk, against which the chair, as a whole, may happen to be moved in use. Thus the covering material is protected against marring and the noise of impact is reduced.

When the seat is occupied, that portion of the occupants body engaged on the cushion elements I and 8 will span or bridge the spaces or channels 12 between said cushion elements. In the normal shifting about of the occupant upon the seat, the portions of the cushion elements engaged by the body are compressed and then tend to return to normal position. This, in connection with the body movement before referred to, sets up an action which tends to expel and draw in air, from and into the channels to dissipate body heat. Thus the seat remains cool and comfortable during long periods of occupancy. The seat,

which is strong and .rigid, consists of but a few parts, that may be produced and assembled at a relatively low cost. a

In describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts of the chair seat, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A chair embodying therein a seat bottom having-laterally spaced rows of openings therein, a plurality of cushion elements narrower at their mid portions arranged side-by-side but with the wider end portions of adjacent cushion elements substantially engaged with each other in the plane of said rows of openings, the narrower mid portions of adjacent cushion elements coacting to provide spaces between said elements, in line with said rows of openings and which spaces are substantially closed at their ends, and means extending through the seat bottom and into the cushion elements to secure them in place upon the seat bottom.

2. A chair embodying therein a seat comprising a plurality of cushion elements arranged side-by-side and substantially meeting at their ends and formed at the adjacent sides to define elongated spaces narrower at the ends and tapering to a wide mid-section between said elements and which spaces are closed at their ends, a support for said cushion elements and means for securing said cushion elements to said support.

3. A chair embodying therein a seat comprising a plurality of cushion elements arranged sideby-side and substantially meeting at their ends and formed at the adjacent sides to define elongated spaces narrower at the ends and tapering to a wide mid-section between said elements and which spaces are closed at their ends, a seat bottom having openings in line with said spaces, and means for securing said cushion elements to said seat bottom.

GLENN D. WQOD. 

